EPA takes aim at Obama-era regulation of mercury at coal plants

Wilma Wheeler |Monday, December 31, 2018

Trump’s EPA To Weaken Rule Limiting Coal Plant Mercury Emissions

"Once again, the Trump administration is acting in a way that will adversely affect the health and safety of those living from coast to coast". It calculates that the crackdown on mercury and other toxins from coal plants produced only a few million dollars a year in measurable health benefits and was not "appropriate and necessary" - a legal benchmark under the country's landmark Clean Air Act. The federal government is required to take into account both the costs and health benefits when considering pollution regulations.

In July, electric utilities and utility groups favoring the rule asked the administration to keep it in place.

The proposal will be up for 60 days of public comment before a final ruling goes into effect.

Coal power plants are the single biggest source of mercury pollution in America, accounting for almost half of mercury pollution in 2015, according to a recent study published by Harvard University's School of Public Health. Mercury can cause brain damage, learning disabilities and birth defects in children, as well as problems for women during pregnancy. In a statement announcing the proposed revision-which would eliminate the consideration of these "co-benefits"-the EPA said the cost of complying with the regulation "dwarfs" the monetized benefits in health".

Federer leads Switzerland to past Britain at Hopman Cup
Ebden lost the first set 3-6 but used the home crowd to his advantage and rallied to win the next two sets 7-6, 6-2 for victory. He is just such an icon for the sport and I think he's the GOAT (greatest of all time), so it's going to be a very special one.

The mercury regulation also costs the coal industry $9.6 billion annually, making it among the most expensive regulations the EPA has ever had to enforce. That came not from curbing mercury itself but from the reduction in particulate matter linked to heart and lung disease that also occurs when cutting mercury emissions.

President Barack Obama in contrast cited $80 billion in health benefits annually, including preventing 11,000 premature deaths, 4,700 heart attacks and 130,000 asthma attacks. For that reason, the original rule argued against using a strict cost-benefit analysis to decide whether the regulation should be imposed, said Joseph Goffman, executive director of Harvard Law School's Environmental and Energy Law Program.

A study published this month by Harvard University's School of Public Health said coal-fired power plants are the top source of mercury in the United States, accounting for almost half of mercury emissions in 2015. "It's a very different calculus".

Samsung's new TVs will wirelessly stream PC gaming to TV
However, don't expect this feature to work freely as Samsung clearly notes it will enable control of some "compatible apps". It was only a few days ago when reports suggested Samsung's TV lineup for 2019 will include Bixby and Google Assistant.

Trump says 'big progress' made in talks with China
Resolving the bruising spat could help shore up confidence in the Chinese economy, which itself is bracing for a slowdown. A tariff increase also could stall China's economy, potentially slowing global growth, the report said.

Encounter in J&K's Pulwama, 1 militant killed
Later, in the day, hundreds of locals participated in the funeral prayers of the slain militants. The search operation turned into a gunfight after the militants opened fire, the official added.

Reports Of Jetway Collapse At BWI Airport
A jetway is the hallway structure leading up to the plane when passengers board the plane. The bridge will remain closed until the investigation is over, the tweet said.

Macron Plans to Crack Down on Tax Avoidance as Protests Ease
The ongoing protests, which started on November 17, are the result of discontent across France over the rising cost of living. But by nightfall, tourists and couples were back at adjacent Trocadero plaza to enjoy spectacular views of the tower.

House leader: Dems won’t seat candidate in unresolved race
The US constitution states that the House is the judge of the elections of its members and the final arbiter of all contests. The latest ruling came as lawmakers Thursday enacted a new law to largely restore the board to how it operated before 2016.

EPIC Games Made $3 Billion Profit in 2018
But, as mentioned, Fortnite is a cross-platform title that supports PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, Mac, Android and iOS. Fortnite earnings on the iOS platform alone account for more than $385 million , earning $1.23 million per day.